Little Falls transcript., 1887-05-27
ONLY FOR FUN.

"Oh, middlln,' Miss Patty; middlin'
Hain't quite SO spry as I was twenty
odd years ago; but hold on bit and
III help you down" And so saying
aldermanic ST Dunning reached up a
large fat hand and eased MISS Patty's s
descent from the one-horse shay that
old Doane was tugging at, evid emily
not wishing to tarry, for she seemed
instinctively to conclude that if Miss
Patty stopped, there was no telling
when she would resume her journey.
You see, though Miss Patty was a
good old soul as ever lived, she was
very much given to harmless gossip
ing and she generally tarried long over
the whine when she began to talk
over her own troubles and trails.
Miss Patty was, as she herself ex-
pressed it, nig Oh on to go, and, in fact,
she admitted the same thing for a
number Of years, so that most folks
put it at 70 or thereabouts. Just
now Miss Patty was in peck OF
trouble-she had come down from
Roseleaf farm in search of female help.
Mrs. Dunning. the hotel el-keeper's s
wife, came out to greet the newcomer,
being always glad to see the tidy
body, especially as Miss Patty SIo-
Gums butter was the best for miles
around, and she always made it a
point to bring some along with her.
Just now Uncle ST, as most people
called him, was grunting over the three
gallon jar OF buttercup yellow cream.
cry.
Mrs. Dunning relieved the butter
maker OF her basket OF eggs, and she
herself gathered up a bunch Of garden
sass, and brought up in the rear as
the trio trudged through the garden
and around to the ample hotel kitch-
en- Miss Patty remarking, as they
were passing the piazza:
"Pve got to have some help some
how or other. I've inquired all the
way along, bat girls seem to be mighty
scarce, alters the way these days,
when you wont 'em to do a. bit OF
work they are nowhere around. Ii it
warn't for the rheumatis now but
right here Miss Patty's voice was lost,
as she turned the corner Of the great
house. Though lost to view. she was
ind ol1l>1r% aT +I> -
the group OF girls who sat on the front
piazza, some in low wicker rockers,
one in a. hammock, swinging lazily..
another half hidden by the luxuriant
woodbine that cIambered up to the
second story
II say girls, come here, every one
OF you," and the face that had been
peeping from the woodbine came into
full view, and the dainty, muslin-clad
body sailed down the steps, and four
Others mot all alike, but every one
more or less pretty, followed after.
her around the west side OF the house,
and within hearing Of all that was
said in tine kitchen.
"Muns is the word, now girls, don't
you give an audible smile for your
life. think the party in the immense
sun bonnet-shaker, I suppose you'd
call its a case; an original, too; and
I want to hear what She is going to
do about her help. She makes me
think OF old Aunt Hannah, up at the
springs. This old body is just such
go-ahead-sharp as a cricket, and,
except for her rheumatis, would be
equal to hall dozen such girls as Won
and l."
When the girls had reached the de-
sired spot right under a high window
that opened out of the buttery, that
was Mrs. Dunning's pride, and a
marvel of convenience, by the by,
they all sat down on long wooden
bench that was under great overhang-
ing lilac bushes, just now laden With
immense clusters of the lovely per-
fumed blossoms.
Rose Stoneleigh, the leader Of the
group, put one dimpled finger up to
her lips, and the Others, in follow
your leader" style, each raised a fin
ger, and they were as quiet as mice.
Presently, through the window, came
the voice OF Mrs. Dunning:
Indeed, you must stop q minute,
Miss Slocum. You'll be all done out,
time you get back home again..
NO! thankee all the same. I'll try
one more place, and then I'll get back
home again
"1t is too bad you can't find any.
body. What is the particular rush,
just now? Surely haying has not
commenced with you?''
NO; not exactly, but I've a sight
On hand just now; got to do some pie
plant, and then them ere gooseberries
are about rip. enough to can, and
IN q couple of weeks The berries will